OTHER GOSSIP

Arsenal director Lord Harris of Peckham has said that manager Arsene Wenger will be encouraged to spend this summer and that "with the exception of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo or Gareth Bale, we could buy most players."

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has got in touch with Yaya Toure's agent to try and smooth out relations with the 31-year-old midfielder. Toure was said to be "very upset" by the City hierarchy's failure to acknowledge his birthday on a recent trip to Abu Dhabi.

Ferdinand's future at Tottenham is in doubt after boss Tim Sherwood's sacking

Neil Lennon will advise Celtic on his successor after stepping down as manager at Parkhead, but former Bhoys striker Henrik Larsson insists he does not want to leave Swedish side Falkenburg to take up the role.

Tottenham coach Les Ferdinand, who played for Spurs, QPR and Newcastle before retiring, has been earmarked by West Ham as the man to bring more attractive football to Upton Park. Hammers manager Sam Allardyce has been told that he will have to work with an attack coach from next season.

Colombian singer Shakira has released her new World Cup song 'La La La (Brazil 2014)'. Her boyfriend, Barcelona and Spain defender Gerard Pique, is in the video along with several other World Cup stars.